One of New York's most "Frenchified" cafs -La Bergamote on 169 9th Avenue. That's what I've heard and the interior bears out it's reputation - banks and banks of pastry cases... Plus a very over-the-top Frenchie mural... These cases hold a vast array of gateaux... And big glossy, fruity high gloss tartes... Plenty of small fruity tartes...

The croissants do look like the REAL thing...

AND they have macarons...or a sort...a tad stale I have to say.

They are not bumpy or lumpy nor huge like some I've encountered in New York.

A very nice Frenchie counter to pickup your drinks...

My order....

Growing up we thought to "Frenchify" something (well mainly lamb chops) was to stick a frill on it. But New York has this obsession with both the classic Parisien cafe + the classic patisserie and attempting to sandwich the two together. When you do find these two in Paris, it's a salon de the accompaning a patisserie like Angelina or Carette, nevera cafe.

Plus there's an aura of "ladies who lunch" to these Parisien tea rooms - quite proper and generally inhabited by the feminine gender + kiddies. I shall continue my pursuit of the genuine article in NYC, but large clumps of hair are beginning to litter my studio :(

I think it is so hard to replicate something in a foreign country it is just never the same. New York does Bagels like no one else and Paris does Macaron like no one else. As for us Brits well we do Yorkshire Puddings because no one else does :)

Oh my! It gets better and better! From the fruit tartlets to croissants and all served with wonderful paintings of hot chocolate! Very lucky virtual food has no calories or I would be the size of a house!

I know it sounds ordinary and NOT French - but you can get a very good Hot Chocolate at Starbucks!! No kidding...but one caution: be sure to order their "Signature Hot Chocolate" they have another that is rather tasteless but for the signature one they use a nice blend of chocolate...you won't pick your order up at a marble-top counter, or be able to gaze upon a case of jeweled pasteries (dang), BUT you will get a yummy Hot Chocolate fix, and fast! ;)

You make me want some hot chocolate every time I see your blog with it featured. Yesterday I told Con, when we were out and about, that I wanted some. Then laughed.. Where would we get a good hot chocolate here? So we never got one. We have two very small Starbucks in markets here, and one coffee/wine place, whose hot chocolate leaves a lot to be desired. Thats small town living for ya. Enjoy all those you have around you.

I thoughly enjoy visiting your blog and the amazing artistry that I find here. It is so beautiful and you have the ability to draw one right into the places that you describe. Your artistic ability and your photographic skill make visiting your blog, a real privilege.